Elastic hub for wheels.



EDOUARD GRARDEL, OF AMIENS, FRANCE.

ELASTIC HUB FOR WHEELS- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, 1905.

Application filed April 26, 1906. Serial No- 257.455.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDoUARD GRARDEL, a citizen of the Republic of France, and a resident of Amiens, France, have invented an Improvement in Elastic Hubs for Wheels, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates toimprovements in hubs for vehicle-wheels of the class wherein provision is made for slight yielding move ment of the spokes and tire with respect to the axle of thervehicle, the object being to neutralize as far as possible the -jolting and jarring incident to travel upon rough and stony roads.

To this end my invention consists of a twopart hub and a bag or envelop interposed between said parts containing a plurality of inflated cushions or like resilient medium, there being also provided means for limiting movement of the separated parts of the hub. Cushions or like yielding medium heretofore employed in hubs of this nature have been brought in direct contact with the hub bodies, thereby subjecting the material of the cushion not only to the strain and wear incident to internal pressure, but also to an exterior frictional wear, thereby greatly shortening the life of said cushions. By means of the improved construction hereinafter described this defect is avoided by the provision of a protective covering or envelop, in which the cushions are contained, the said envelop protecting the cushions from frictional contact with the movable parts of the hub and also providing means whereby a lubricant or preservative may be applied to the cushions, the said protective covering also preventing access of dust and foreign particles.

My invention will be more fully described in connection with the accompanying drawing and will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The figure is a sectional view of a hub embodying the main features of my invention.

In the drawing the axle-box (designated by a) is provided with a bearing-flange a on its inner end and a like flange a removably mounted on its outer end. The inner faces of said flanges form bearing-surfaces for the end margins of a sleeve 7), to which the spokes b 'are secured. The inner diameter of said sleeve b is somewhat greater than the outer diameter of the hub a, forming a closed chamber adapted to contain a suitable cushion, as will hereinafter more fully appear. In the construction shown the cushion is prevented from being brought into contact with the flanges a a by retaining-rims a and b formed on the hub and sleeve, respectively, at one end and similar retainingrims b and a at the other end. By means of this construction there are formed end chambers, in which foreign matter, such as grit and sand, finding access to the box, is collected. The retaining-rim a is made integral with the hub a; but I preferably make the retaining-rim a removable and desirably provide the same with a flange a extending outwardly a slight distance and surrounding a reduced portion of the hub a. Flange a likewise surrounds said reduced portion and is held in contact and in abutting relation with the flange a by means ofnuts a and 0. the latter desirably closing the outer end of the axle-box. Thus in removing the nuts a and a it will be seen that the flange 0, may be readily disconnected, as well as the retaining-rim a, permitting the cushions to be readily withdrawn for purposes of repair or renewal.

Means are provided for limiting movement of the sleeve 1) with respect to the axlebox a, which desirably consists of a bolt 0, passing through lugs b and a formed on the sleeve Z) and flange a, respectively. The lugs 11 are preferably slotted to permit a slight movement of the sleeve 6 and also to limit movement of the same. This form of fastening device will also serve to prevent the sleeve 1) from rotating independently of the box a when the wheel is used for drivingwheel on motorvehicles. I

Between the sleeve 1) and the box a and the retaining-flanges thereon is interposed an envelop or bag 9, which, as shown, contains a plurality of inflated cushions m. The cushions m are in the form of spheres, which are desirably inflated when made and are designed to be replaced when they are either worn out or deflated. I preferably provide a ring or annular cushion nnear the central portion of the hub, which may be inflated by means of a tube 0. While I have shown but one of these amiular cushions, it will be obvious that the number may be increased where it is not possible to rely upon the smaller cushions m.- In order to preserve the cushions m and n, I desirably fill the envelop g with a suitable gelatinous li uid or like material adapted to maintain t e material of which the cushion is composed in a soft and pliable condition. As a means for protecting the ends of the bag from the retaining-rims I desirably interpose cushions 1".

While I have shown the part g filled with inflated cushions, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the use of the same in all embodiments of my invention, as substitutessuch as sponge-rubber or other like yielding material not of a metallic naturewould perform the function of the in flated cushions in an advantageous manner.

I claim 1. A resilient hub for wheels comprising an axle-box, a sleeve to which the spokes are secured, a bag or envelop interposed between the sleeve and box, and a plurality of inflated cushions filling said bag.

2. A resilient hub for wheels comprising an axle-box, a sleeve to which the spokes are secured, a bag or envelop interposed between the sleeve and box, a plurality of inflated cushions filling for said bag, and a suitable material for preserving the elasticity of the bag and cushion.

3. A resilient hub for wheels comprising an axle-box, a sleeve to which the spokes are secured, a bag or envelop interposed between the sleeve and box, a plurality of inflated cushions for said bag, and a single cushion having an inflating-tube projecting through the 4. A resilient hub for wheels comprising an axleb0x, a sleeve to which the spokes are secured, a bag or envelop interposed between the sleeve and box,- a plurality of inflated cushions for said bag, and a single inflated ring having an inflating tube projecting throiwh the bag.

5. A resilient hub for wheels comprising an axle-box, a sleeve to which the spokes are secured, a bag or envelop interposed between the sleeve and box, and a plurality of nonmetallic resilient cushioning elements filling said bag.

6. A resilient hub for wheels comprising an axle-box, a sleeve to which the spokes are secured, a bag or envelop interposed between the sleeve and box, a plurality of resilient non-metallic cushions filling said bag, and means limiting movement of said sleeve with respect to said box.

7. A resilient hub for wheels comprising an axle-box, a sleeve to which the spokes are secured, retaining-rims for said sleeve and box, a bag or envelop interposed between said sleeve and box and said rims, and a plurality of resilient non-metallic yielding members filling said bag, said rims forming chambers between the ends of said hub and said bag respectively.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDOUARD GRARDEL.

Witnesses:

EDMOND LEooUTURIER, HANSON 0. (x12. 

